1911 Marmon Indianapolis 500

Marmon was an automobile brand name manufactured by Nordyke Marmon & Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, from 1902 through 1933, and a brand of Texas-made premium trucks from 1963 through 1997.
The Model 32 of 1909 spawned the Wasp, winner of the first Indianapolis 500 motor race.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway complex was built in 1909 as a gravel-and-tar track and hosted a smattering of small events before the promoters decided to focus on just one major event. The track was then paved with 3.2 million bricks, urged by principal owner Carl G. Fisher after several deaths related to the unsteady racing surface.
The creation of a 500 mile (804.672 km) race allowed the track to rapidly acquire a privileged status for automobile races.
The first “500″ was held at the Speedway on Memorial Day, May 30, 1911, with Ray Harroun piloting a Marmon “Wasp”, 80,200 spectators paid $1 admission, and an annual tradition had been established. Many considered Harroun to be a hazard during the race, as he was the only driver in the race driving without a riding mechanic who generally checked the oil pressure and let the driver know when traffic was coming. His car was outfitted with his invention, the rear-view mirror.